Priming mixture



Patented Nov. 28, 192 2.

UNMED STATES JAMES E. BURNS, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS. i

PRIMIN'G MIXTURE.

No Drawing.

T 0 all whom itmm concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Priming. Mixtures; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains-to make and use the invention.

The invention has relation to priming mixtures for small arms ammunition, the

object being to provide such a mixture hav-- ing a strong oxidizing agent or oxygen delivering substance such as potassium chlorate as an ingredient, which will reduce to a minimum the erosion to the bore of a gun, and which will largely eliminate the rusting of the bore when the gun is laid away uncleaned after firing.

This application is a continuation in part of application S. No. 314,881, filed August 2, 1919.

The mixture has potassium chlorate substituted in part by another oxidizing agent, which is a salt of lead, preferably lead nitrate, and used in conjunction therewith is a lead salt which is a reducing agent, preferably lead sulphocyanate, together with a friction producing material such as powdered glass, or quartz.

The following is a statement of the ingredients and proportions preferred Potassium chlorate (KClO 20 to 40 parts, preferably 30 arts.

Lead nitrate (Pb( O 5 to 35 parts, preferably 12 parts.

Lead sulphocyanate (PMSQN) 20 to 40 parts, preferably 33 parts.

Powdered glass, 5 to 35 parts, preferably 25 parts.

These components are mixed with a suitable water soluble binder, such as gum ara bic, gum tragacanth, or gelatine glue.

Potassium chlorate is the most satisfactory oxidizing agent and it is well known that the residue from the combustion thereof is,

corrosive. Lead salts are also well known to be comparatively inert. In the present case, the preponderance of lead salt residues in presence of the said residue of potassium chlorate renders the latter inert or combines with it to render it inactive in the production of rust as stated. The preponderance of lead Application filed August 3, 1921.

Serial No. 489,587.

salt residues in the present case also fills up the pores and coats the surface of the bore of the gun and protects the samefrom rust.

When guns are laid away uncleaned after firing, particularly with smokeless powder, the bore of the gun will be found after a time to be very rusty, which is ruinous thereto.

This rusting of the bore of the gun and also the erosion of said bore consequent upon the discharge thereof are both found to be greatly reduced by the use of the present invention, as has been exhaustively demonstrated in practice,

The use of the lead nitrate serves a double purpose, first as an oxidizing agent in replacing the chlorate of potassium the residue of which is corrosive, whereby less of the latter is used, and second in increasing the preponderance of lead salts in the mixture and in the residues, it serves to counteract the corrosive properties of the residue of chlorate of potassium.

The lead sulphocyanate is a reducing agent which is also a lead salt, whereby the preponderance of the lead salt residues is obtained.

The erosion to the bore of the gun consequent upon the discharge thereof is greatly reduced in the present case owing to the protective coating of lead salts residue after the first discharge of the gun, said coating being practically insoluble and non-hygroscopic and filling up the pores of said bore as stated.

I claim 1. A primin mixture for small arms ammunition, consisting of an oxidizing agent the residue of which is corrosive, a second oxidizing agent the residue of which is not corrosive, a reducing agent the residueof which is not corrosive, said second oxidizing agent and said reducing agent being in preponderance in the mixture and the residues thereof being capable of rendering the residue of the first named oxidizing agent inert, and a friction producing material.

2. A priming mixture for small arms ammunition, consisting of an oxidizing-agent, the residue of which is corrosive, a second oxidizing agent being a lead salt, the residue of which is inert, a reducing agent, being a lead salt, the residue of which is inert, said lead salts being in preponderance in the mixture and the residues thereof being capable of rendering the residue of the first named oxidizing agent inert, and a friction producin material.

3. priming mixture for small arms am- 5 munition, consisting of potassium chlorate,

a second oxidizing agent being a lead salt, a reducing agent being a lead salt, said lead salts being in preponderance in the mixture and a friction producing material.

4. A priming mixture for small arms ammunition consisting of potassium chlorate, lead nitrate, lead sulphocyanate, and a friction producing material.

5. A priming mixture for small arms ammunition including a preponderance of lead salts, and the residues of Which are practical- 1y insoluble and non-hygroscopic and which are capable of coating and do coat the bore of the gun upon discharge thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JAMES 'E. BURNS.

Witnesses:

G. M. ANDERSON, STUART HILDER. 

